Benefits of Upgrading Equipment for Safety and Productivity

Benefits of Upgrading Equipment

Upgrading construction equipment can have significant positive effects in many areas. Yet, many firms expect their workers to continue using out of date equipment in an effort to save money.

Construction and contracting are two industries that understandably have to keep a tight watch on their budgets. Payment for completed jobs is often well worth the effort, but it can be months on end between the time the project starts and reimbursement finally happens.

As a result, these industries watch their budgets closely and are reluctant to invest in yet more capital without it being an absolute necessity. What these firms do not know is that forcing laborers to work with outdated equipment can actually cost the business money while also potentially putting workers’ lives in danger.

To illustrate this point, here are some of the top benefits of upgrading equipment:

Improved Productivity

Newer machines operate more efficiently and have features that make working easier. For example, newer models of cement mixers are often lighter and more maneuverable without sacrificing capacity. Workers can use them more readily for tasks like pouring a footpath compared to an older, more cumbersome model.

Aside from features like these, newer models of equipment generally operate more efficiently and result in more tasks completed at a quicker rate. Any time you want to balk at the costs of upgrading, consider the revenue and man hours you are losing by holding on to outmoded technology.

Reduced Downtime

Similar to the above misconception, many companies want to avoid implementing new equipment models because they are concerned about the disruption to work it might cause. On the contrary, the small amount of time it takes to train employees and move the new equipment to the site often pales in comparison to the downtime jobs experience as a result of faulty equipment.

Breakdowns and malfunctions present hazards to employees while halting progress. Even if repairs require a minor amount of fine-tuning or a replaced component, that machine may be out of commission for days or weeks at a time. Newer equipment breaks down less, is often easier to fix and utilizes new technology like onboard diagnostics to ensure less down time overall.

While there is no telling which of these tragic fatalities were preventable, business owners should note that older equipment often has less failsafes and are more prone to deadly malfunctions. Any time someone wants to shrug off forcing laborers to tangle with equipment that is decades old, they should consider the cost of a worker’s fingers, leg or their entire life.

Safety thus becomes the biggest motivator when upgrading equipment. The boost to productivity and morale are second to the value of a human life that could never be understated.